Brush element of the strip type



NOV- 4, 1952 R. w. vosE ETAL BRUSH ELEMENT OF THE STRIP TYPE .INVENTORS vALFEDA l.. LEFEBVRE ROBERT W VOSE I! )www2-$7'v o. HARGREA ves 'By 1f.

t A T TOPNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1 952 BRUSHEL'EMENT 0F THE STRP'TYPE vRobertv Vose, West Springfield, Mass., Alfred L, Le Feline, Windsor, Conn., and Ernest- D. Hargreaves', A'S'nringiield, Mass., ass'ignors' to The FullerBrush' Company, Hartford, Conn., a cor- 'porationy of Connecticut Application May 18, 1949,. Serial No. 53,942

y y 'isf claims. 11 y The invention relates tof-abrush element ofthe' strip type wherein the brush fibers are held by a metallic strip and. are arranged. in Vlongitudinally spaced tufts. While not necessarily so limited, a brush element embodying the invention is particularly adaptedl Vfor winding on a. central core or drum tov form acylindricalbrush.

One of the` objects 'of the invention is to provide a brush element of. the `type specified having the fibers held in longitudinally spaced sockets and having connecting portions between the sockets which are .readily vbend'able so that all bending takes place inthe said connecting portions and not at the socketswhen the brush element is wound Ona. core or drum. I n accordance with the invention, Ythe. readily -bendable connecting portions are preferably formed with oppositely inclined' rearward diverging parts, whichv are .forwardly arched. A

A further object of the invention is to provide a brush element having the characteristics as abovev described and including a lgenerally channel-shaped metallic strip formed toprovide the sockets and the connecting. portions, the fibers in the several socketslbeingllooped aroundfaflongitudinal retaining wire within the channel'. The sockets and the connectingportions are so formed that the brush-V element ca'n'fbe` bent a'tthe connecting portions without adversely affecting.. the.l

sockets.

A still further object ofthe invention lis to .provide a brush element'aslast above-described having'means additional to' the sockets andA adjacent the rear of the channel for preventing the loopsof the fibers 'from moving longitudinally along. the wire; l

Still other objects of'theinvention will 'be apparent from the drawing and fromthefollowing specication and claims:

Inv thev drawing ive-'nave shovmv indetail a pre'- f' ferred embodiment ofthea invention, butit'will be understood that-various changesjmay'bemade fromA theconstructiorisnown. andtnat the drawing' is not t'cr-be1'construe'df-asl dennin'g ror' limiting the scope'A of the invention; "the claims runningT 3 is" a front view with the fibers shown in section along the line '3-'3 of Fig'. '2.

Fig'. 4 is a rear view.

Fig'. 5 is a transverse sectional View takenv along'` the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig'. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 5 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary ylongitudinal sectional view' taken along the line 'l-T of Fig'. l6.

Fig. 8 is a 'fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. v6.

Fig. 9 is a view similar" to Fig. 2 but showing. the deformation of the b'ru'sh element when it is bent to conform to the curvature of a drum such as that shown inFig. 1. y

Fig. '10 vis a view similar to Fig'. 8' but showing the increased curvature resulting from the deformation of the brush velement as shown in Fig. 9.

The brush element as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a longitudinal metallic member formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced similar ber sockets l0, I8', and also formed with a plurality of similar connecting portions l2, l2 extending between the socket portions l0; l0. Projec'ti'ng' forward from the 'severall sockets I0, Il) are tufts I4, I4 formed. of suitable bers. term fibers is herein used in a generic sense and Vis intended to include. vegetable bers, or

bristles or other animaliibers, or synthetic nbers..

or metallic wires, or any other suitable laments or brushmaterial.

A brush elementembodying the invention isparticularly adaptedl for bending4 or winding to provide a circular or cylindrical external shape. The brush` elementV may be wound on a central coreor drum suchas the drum- I 6 as shown-in Fig. 1., the said element being ordinarily Wound helically on the drum to form a cylindrical brush. The brush stripis substantially weaker at the connecting portions i2, I2- than at the sockets IG.,

IG, so as to facilitate 'bending at the connecting! portions rather than at` thesockets. Preferably and-as shown, the sockets l0,- lll'havea substantial-depth from front to rear,: and the connecting.

portionslZ, I.2=between-the"socket-'portions I', I9 have relativelysmall depth'andinany event have a-dep'th substantially less than thefdepth of the sockets. Inasmuch as the connecting portions i2,

- weak, all vbending takes place inthe said connect-` |.2 have relatively small depth or are otherwise The vide an entirely closed socket in which the fiber tufts I4, I4 are positioned, the tufts projecting forward from the sockets as already stated.

Between the socket sections I4, I4, the side walls of the channel comprise transversely extending parts 26, 23 constituting socket connecting portions, these parts being preferably located approximately midway between the front of the channel and the rear wall thereof. Preferably, the parts 26, 26 of the side walls are oppositely inclined and diverge in the rearward direction.

The centrally located sections 22, 22 of the side walls are formed with notches 28, 28 which eX- tend rearward to the inner front edges of the saidV oppositely inclined parts 26, 26. Openings 36, 3i) are provided at the rear, these openings interrupting the rear wall I8 and interrupting the rear portions of the side walls 26, 20. These openings 30, 36 extend forward to the outer rear edges of the oppositely inclined parts 26, 26. It will be seen that, by reason of the notches 28, 28 at the front and the openings 3S, 36 at the rear, the said parts 26, 26 constitute the sole connections between the socket portions of the strip. These connecting parts 26, v23 are relatively thin and they can be readily bent rearwardly, as for instance when the brush element is wound on a drum as shown in Fig. l. While it is essential that bending shall occur only at the connecting portions of the strip, it is desirable to avoid excessive fiexibility and this is brought about by placing the connecting parts 26, 26 in oppositely inclined positions as shown, the said parts diverging in the rearward direction.

' The oppositely inclined connecting parts 26, 26 are preferably longitudinally arched at 32, 32 as clearly shown in Figs. '7 and 8. There is little or no arching at the inner edges of the said parts, but the extent of arching progressively increases from the inner edges thereof to the outer edges thereof. For a reason to be hereinafter set forth, the arching is preferably in forward directions.

A longitudinal core or retaining wire 34 is preferably provided, this wire being Within the channel, and in front of the interrupted rear wall I8 and behind the inner zones of thel oppositely inclined connecting parts 26, 26. The bunches of fibers constituting the several tufts I4, I4 are looped around the wire 34 as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the wire thus serving to retain the fibers in place. The number of fibers in each bunch is such that the corresponding socket is completely filled. Thus the sockets and the rear wall cooperate with the retaining wire to firmly Ysupport the bers. The wire engages the connecting parts 26, 26 and these parts serveV not only to prevent forward movement of the wire but also to hold the wire in central position. Inasmuch as the parts 26, 23 are arched in the forward directions, the arching does not in any way affect the wire 34.

During brushing action there is a tendency for the bers to move inward in their respective sockets, the result being that the inner looped portions of the bunches of fibers tend to move longitudinally along the wire. Means additional.

4 to the sockets are provided which are so positioned as to prevent any longitudinal movement of the looped portions of the fibers. This means may be variously formed, but preferably and as shown it comprises centrally located tabs 36, 36 projecting forward from the rear wall. There are two tabs 36, 36 at opposite sides of each ber loop as clearly shown in the right portion of Fig.

.2. Thus the looped portions of the fibers are closely held and conned by the rear wall I8 and by the tabs 36, 36.

When the rear` wall I8 is interrupted by openings such as 30, 36, the tabs 36, 36 are formed at the edges of the openings. The tabs 36, 33 preferably engage the wire 34 at the rear thereof, the wire being thus firmly held between the tabs and the connecting parts 26, 26.

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 2 but shows the brush element bent to conform to a curvature such as that of the drum I6. All bending has taken place at the connecting parts 26, 26 and bending has been facilitated by the arching of the said parts at 32, 32. During bending the inner forward portions of the parts 32, 32 are under tension and the outer rear portions of the said parts are under compression. There is little or no arching at the portions under tension but there is substantial arching at the portions under compression. The arched compression portions yield during bending, the arching being increased as will be observed by comparing Fig. 10 with Fig. 8. Inasmuch as the outer compression portions freely yield, there is no stretching of the inner tension portions, and there is therefore no tendency to distort or open the sockets.

Preferably the centers of bending of the parts 26, 26 are spaced from the rear wall I8 at least as far as isA the center of the wire 34, and the centers of bending may advantageously be spaced slightly forward of the center of the wire. Thus when the brush element is bent as shown in Fig. 9, there is no tendency to stretch the wire 34. If the centers of bending were at the rear of the center of the wire, there would be a tendency to stretch the wire during bending and bending would be resisted by the resulting tension in the wire.

Whilereference has been made particularly to rearward bending of the brush element as shown in Fig. 9, the strip is also adapted for lateral bending in a direction parallel with the rear Wall I2. When lateral bending takes place, one connecting part 26 is under tension and the opposite connecting part 26 is under compression. In the part under tension the arching at 28 is reduced, and in the part under compression the arching at 28 is increased.

What we claim is:

1. A brush element of the strip type comprising in combination, a single' longitudinal sheet metal member of substantially uniform thickness bent to provide a rear Wall and to provide two similar oppositely Vdisposed side walls which side Walls are shaped to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced similar fiber sockets each having substantial depth from front to rear andv which side Walls are also shaped to form a plurality of similar connecting portions extending longitudinally between the sockets, each connecting portion having a depth substantially less than the depth of the sockets and each connecting portion consisting solelyV of two oppositely inclined rearward diverging parts whichV are spaced rearwardfromQthefronts of the socketsv and which are readily bendable, and tufts of fibers lin the `several sockets and' .projeetingffor@l wardtherefrom.

2. A brush element ras 'se't 'forthclaim '1; wherein 'the oppositely inclined/rearward 'dwerg-- ing connectingv parts are longitudinally-,arched to facilitate bending.

3. A brush element as set forth in claim '1, wherein the oppositely inclined rear-wardadiverging connecting parts are longitudinally archedt'o facilitate bending with the-extent of arching 'pro'- gressively increasing from 'thecen'ters of the connecting portions toward the sides-thereof;

4. A brush element of fthe-:striptype comprising in combination, a Vlongitudinal sheet metal strip bent to provide a rear walllandl'havingftwo similar opposite sidewalls which 'side walls include portions perpendiculart'othe rearwalland formed with longitudinally `:spaced 'similari'concave socket sectionsco'opera'ting with 'eachother to provide fiber Sockets and which'sidefwallsfare formed with 'longitudinalleonneoting-portion's'eX; tending. between thel socket sections, the said" strip having longitudinallyspac'edopenings -a't the rear which are between the 'sockets "and which interrupt the rear wall and' the rear-'partsl of Athe side walls 'to provide separateflongitudinally spaced rear wall portions behindv 'the 're-1k spective sockets so that upon v*rearward bending' of the strip all bending takes vplace in -the said connecting portions of thev sidewalls, and tufts of vfibers in the severalsockets andpro'jecting forward therefrom. j

5. A brush element asset v'forth in claim wherein the connecting portionsofth'e' 'side wallsv include transversely extending parts spaced' rear; ward from the fronts ofthe side walls.

6. A brush element as set forth in Aclaim wherein the connecting portions-'of 'the side wallsare transversely extending parts spaced' rearward from the fronts of the side Walls, wherein the side walls are provided vbetween the-'sockets with notches which extend rearwardf substantiallyvto the said transverselyA extending parts; andfwhere in the openings at the rear;entendforward'substantially to the said'- transversely extending parts.

'7'.V A brush element as-set-forth in claim 4, wherein the connecting portionsiofthe side walls are oppositely inclined rearwarddiverging parts spaced rearward from the` lfronts 'offtlieinside walls, wherein the side wallsare provder'iibe-- tween the Asockets, with nctchesywhich extend rearward substantially to the forward edges of.` the said rearward divergingfp'arts, andowhe'rein the openings at the rearextend'forwardsubshtantially rto the rearwardedges'ofjthe said"rear, ward diverging parts.

' s. A brush elementof 'the strip; type compris;- inggincombination, alongitudinaljrnetallic mein'- ber -forrned with a plurality of'- longitudinally spaced similar fiber socketseach `having;'substantial depth'fromfront to reari'and also'forrned with a plurality of similar connecting portions extending between the sockets, each connecting portion comprising two oppositely inclined rearward diverging relatively thin parts which are spaced rearward from the fronts of the sockets and which are readily bendable, a single longitudinal wire behind the forward portions of the several sockets and engaging the several oppositely inclined connecting parts, and tufts of fibers looped around the wire and projecting through the sockets and forward therefrom.

9. A brush element as set forth in claim 8, wherein the oppositely inclined rearwarddiverg- 6 in'g connecting parts .are Alongitudinally arched' to facilitate.'.bendin'gf,l the-said parts being arched in forward'directions.

10. A brush'el'ementof' the 4strip type comprising in combination, a longitudinal sheet metal strip-bent to` provide are'ar wall andv having two` similar opposite sidewalls which side walls ineludeportions perpendicular to the rear wall and formed with longitudinally spaced similar concavevso'cketsections cooperating with each other to Iprovideiiber-sockets 'and'which side walls are formedwith vlon'gitudinalv connecting portions extendingr between the 'socket sections and having transverselyrex'tending parts, the said 'strip havingA longitudinally spaced openings at the rear which are between the sockets and' which inter-- rupt the rear 'wall and the vrear parts of theside walls -to provide'y separate longitudinallyv spaced rear wall'portions :behind 'the' respective sockets so that uponA rearward bending of the strip all bending 'takes place in the said 'connecting 'portions 'ofv the sidewalls, a Vlongitudinal wire in front ofthe said `spaced vrear wall portions and behind the inner lzones of the transverselyl extendingparts ,of the lconnecting portions, and tufts of fibers looped around the wire and pro"- jecting through the 'sockets and forward there;- from.

1l. A brush element asl set forth inclaim 10, wherein the side walls' lare provided between 'the sockets with notches which extend rearward subs'tantia'lly tol the s ai'd transversely 4extending, parts, -andwhereirr the openings rat the rear exitend forward substantially to the said `trans-- ver-sely extending parts.y

lf2. AA'brush element-,of 'the'strip type comprising in combination, a longitudinal metallic strip navi-'nga rear wall and having two vsimilar opposide side walls which 'side walls include portions perpendicular'to the rear wall and formed with longitudinally spaced similar concave socket sectionsV cooperating with each other to provide fiber sockets and which side walls are formed with longitudinal connecting portions extending between the. socketl sections and comprising oppositely 'inclined' vrearward diverging parts,l 'the said' strip having notches between the socketsA whiehjeitend'rearward 'substantially to the said rearwarddive'rging parts, and the said "strip havingv longitudinally spaced openings 'at the rear which are` between the sockets and which inter-- rupt tlijej rear wall' andthegpartsof the` side wallsr at the "rear, of' the 'rearward diverging parts, so that `'upon,rearward bending of lthe strip all` bend ing'takesfplace rin 'the said rearward diverging pants, a. longitudinal. wire in front of the said spaced rear wall portions and contactingA with theY said rearward divergingl parts at the rear thereonand tufts of bers looped around the wire arni,proiecting through the socketsand forward therefrom.

l. `A.br.ush; element as set fOr-th in claim- 12, wherein the center of bending of the rearward diverging connecting parts is spaced from the rear wall at least as far as is the center of the wire.

14. A brush element of the strip type comprising in combination, a longitudinal metallic strip having a rear wall and having two similar opposite side walls formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced fiber sockets, a single longitudinal substantially straight wire in front of the rear wall and behind the forward portions of all of the sockets, bunches of bers looped around the wire and projecting through the respective sockets and forward therefrom to form tufts, and means for preventing the looped portions of the said bunches of fibers from moving longitudinally with respect to the wire, the said means being integral with the strip and additional to the sockets and the said means being adjacent and at the edges of the looped portions of the respective bunches of fibers.

15. A brush element of the strip type comprising in combination, a longitudinal metallic strip having a rear wall and having two similar opposite side walls formed to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced fiber sockets, a single longitudinal wire in front of the rear wall and behind the forward portions of all of the sockets. bunches of fibers looped around the wire and projecting through the respective sockets and forward therefrom to form tufts, and forward projecting tabs on the rear wall adjacent and at the edges of the looped portions of the respective bunches of fibers for preventing the said looped portions from moving longitudinally with respect to the wire.

16. A brush element of the strip type comprising in combinatioma longitudinal metallic strip having a rear wall and having two similar opposite side walls which side walls include portions perpendicular to the rear Wall and formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced similar coni cave socket sections cooperating with each other to provide -iiber sockets and Which side walls are formed with longitudinal connecting portions extending between the socket section and having transversely extending parts, a single longitudinal wire in front of the rear wall and behind the inner zones of the transversely extending parts of all of the connecting portions, bunches of fibers looped around the wire and projecting through the respective sockets `and forward therefrom to form tufts, and means adjacent the looped portions of the respective bunches of fibers and additional to the sockets for preventing the said looped portions of the respective bunches of fibers from moving longitudinally with respect to the wire, the said means being integral with the strip and additional to the sockets and the said means being adjacent and at the edges of the looped portions of the respective bunches of fibers.

17. A brush element of the strip type compris# ing in combination, a longitudinal metallic strip having a rear wall and having two similar opposite side walls which side walls include portions perpendicular to the rear wall and formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced similar concave socket sections cooperating with each other to provide fiber sockets and which side Walls are formed with longitudinal connecting portions extending between the socket sections and having transversely extending parts, the rear wall of the said strip having longitudinally spaced pairs of forward projecting tabsv with the tabs of 'each pair adjacent the edges of the corresponding socket, a single longitudinal wire behind the inner zones of the transversely extending parts of all of the connecting portions and in front of all of the said forward projecting tabs, and bunches of fibers looped around the vwire and projecting through the sockets and for- Ward therefrom to constitute tufts, the inner looped portion of each bunch of fibers being between the tabs of the corresponding pair so that the tabs prevent longitudinal movement of the fibers with respect to the wire.

18. A brush element of the strip type comprising in combination, a longitudinal metallic strip having a rear wall and having two similar opposite side walls which side walls include portions perpendicular to the rear wail and formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced similar concave socket sections cooperating with each other to provide fiber sockets and which side walls are formed with longitudinal connecting portions extending between the socket sections and having transversely extending parts, the said strip having longitudinally spaced openings at the rear which are between the sockets and which interrupt the rear wall and the rear parts of the sidey walls to provide separate longitudinally spaced rear wall portions behind the respective sockets so that upon rearward bending of the strip all bending takes place in the said connecting portions of the side walls and the said strip being formed with pairs of forward projecting tabs at the ends of the said longitudinally spaced openings, a single longitudinal wire behind the inner zones of the transversely extending parts of all of the connecting portions and in front of all of the said forward projecting tabs, and bunches of fibers looped around the wire and projecting through the sockets and forward therefrom to constitute tufts, the inner looped `portion of each bunch of fibers being between the tabs of the corresponding pair so that the tabs prevent longitudinal movement of the bers with respect to the wire.

ROBERT W. VOSE. ALFRED L. LE FEBVRE. ERNEST D. HARGREAVE'S.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file-'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Osburn July 9, 

